Soi Fon

After dealing with the backlog of division duties, Yoruichi Shihōin and Shadow walked out of the Second Division gates. Seeing that it was still early, Yoruichi suddenly decided on a whim to visit the Punishment Force, which she had not been to in a long time.

The Punishment Force was the First Division of the Stealth Force, as well as the highest-ranking of its five divisions. Its duties were to assassinate traitorous comrades and conduct reconnaissance and surveillance on Hollows.

Although Yoruichi Shihōin had only recently taken over as Commander of the Punishment Force, her status and prestige within it were not low.

The moment she stepped into the Punishment Force Training Ground, the sounds of fierce fighting rang out beside her ears. Such things were common in the Punishment Force, so Yoruichi was not surprised.

When she casually turned to look, she saw a petite female Punishment Force member engaged in a sparring match against more than a dozen large, burly members.

The young Punishment Force girl's movements were crisp and decisive, nimble yet perfectly measured. She clearly possessed exceptional talent for unarmed combat.

However, there were too many opponents, and after fighting for so long, her strength was gradually failing, putting her at a disadvantage. Anyone with keen eyes could clearly see a trace of rawness in the girl's movements. She had probably only recently joined the Punishment Force training.

Yet despite being at a disadvantage, the girl showed no intention of giving up and continued doing her utmost to evade her opponents' attacks.

"Ha! Interesting!"

Watching the young Punishment Force girl in the field, Yoruichi's interest was clearly piqued.

With a light leap, she landed in the middle of the field and knocked down more than a dozen Punishment Force members in just a few moves. The entire sequence flowed like water, without the slightest pause, as though it had been arranged beforehand. Yoruichi's powerful Hakuda was displayed to its fullest with casual ease.

Wanting to test the young Punishment Force girl, Yoruichi suddenly lashed out with a kick, only for the girl to block it in front of herself.

"Commander!"

A slightly childish female voice came from behind the face covering, filled with shock and respect. The girl's movements visibly stiffened.

Without saying a word, Yoruichi sprang up with her left leg and, together with her right, locked the girl in place before forcefully flinging her away. With a bang, she hit the ground.

"You, what is your name?" Yoruichi asked calmly.

"I... I am Soi Fon!" the young Punishment Force girl answered nervously from her half-kneeling position.

"Is that so!"

Her gaze swept over Soi Fon, and Yoruichi suddenly recalled the little girl from her coming-of-age ceremony many years ago. A smile appeared on her face. "So it was you!"

"Yes, Commander!"

Soi Fon's voice was full of excitement. She had never expected Yoruichi to still remember her.

"You did well!"

Yoruichi patted Soi Fon on the head, waved to Shadow, and turned to leave.

"Yes, Commander!"

"Her talent really is impressive!" Yoruichi tilted her head toward Shadow and smiled. "But I'm curious! She was so young back then. How did you see it?"

"Hmm! How should I put it? It was probably... her eyes," Shadow answered. "The kind of eyes that remained unwavering for the sake of a goal!"

"Is that so?" Yoruichi could not help laughing.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

"Well! I feel like she's a little like me!"

Feeling Shadow's gaze turn toward her, Yoruichi shrugged with a grin. "Anyway, keep observing her for a while longer. If she qualifies..."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi. I understand!"

Ever since taking over as captain, Yoruichi Shihōin had rarely settled down to work seriously. But as the saying went, a leopard could not change its spots. Once the novelty wore off, Yoruichi decisively tossed all the division duties back to Shadow and went off to "play."

If Shihōin Shanqing were still around, someone would be keeping Yoruichi in check, and perhaps she would restrain herself a little. But now, Yoruichi was the boss, and Shadow only indulged her. Well, Miss Yoruichi Shihōin's life could not have been more carefree. In her own words, it was far more fun than being Third Seat!

When she had nothing to do, she would fool around and chat with Kūkaku Shiba, drink herself senseless with Shunsui Kyōraku, play torturous running games with Byakuya Kuchiki, or hide in a secret base with Kisuke Urahara to play and spar. Sometimes, she would gather with Lisa Yadomaru, Hiyori Sarugaki, and Kaien Shiba, or tease Shadow...

During that time, Kūkaku Shiba became captain of the Tenth Division, Kensei Muguruma succeeded to the position of captain of the Ninth Division, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi likewise became captain of the Third Division.

Mashiro Kuna became the Ninth Division's Lieutenant and Kensei Muguruma's adjutant.

Yoruichi Shihōin promoted Kisuke Urahara to Third Seat of the Second Division, placing him in charge of the Surveillance Corps, namely Maggot's Nest.

Tessai Tsukabishi, the Seated Officer of the Second Division most proficient in Kido, was transferred to the Kido Corps and became its new Grand Kido Chief.

The leisurely days passed one day at a time, one year at a time...

Soul Society, Seireitei, Second Division, within the Punishment Force barracks.

Yoruichi Shihōin lay comfortably in a reclining chair, freely stretching her catlike, languid body.

Shadow sat cross-legged nearby, silently reading documents. His sharply defined face carried its usual indifference.

Behind her knelt the high-ranking members of the Commander-in-Chief's personal guard, while the other Punishment Force higher-ups sat on either side below Yoruichi.

"Soi Fon has arrived, Commander!"

Footsteps sounded beyond the open barracks doors. Soon after, Soi Fon appeared at the entrance in her Punishment Force uniform. She knelt on the ground with her head lowered, her voice respectful, her words carrying a trace of shyness and timidity.

"Ah! You're here! Have you heard why you were called?"

Yoruichi leaned back with both hands supporting her upper body, sitting in the chair with her legs slightly crossed as she asked.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing Yoruichi's words, Soi Fon's expression suddenly changed. She became solemn and began reciting, seriously and resolutely, the oath she had practiced countless times in private.

"I, Soi Fon, swear that from this moment onward, I will devote everything I have to protecting the Commander..."

"You're far too hung up on formalities!"

Resting her arm on the chair's armrest, Yoruichi leaned slightly to one side and stretched out a hand helplessly. "Don't call me Commander. Just address me more casually, like Lady Yoruichi or something!"

"Th-that is absolutely not acceptable. How could I address you, Commander, in such a manner..."